EQUIPMENT TO FORM A SHED IN FLAT WEAVER'S LOOMS

Abstract: Letters Patent of an equipment to form shed in flat weaver's looms in which the warp thread (F) is lifted by a vertical stick (1) provided with a ring (2) and an extension (3), pulled by a functional unit consisting of a solenoid (4), with a vertical opening (6) for the passage of the stick, said opening being coaxial to the slots (8, 9, 10), also for the passage of said stick (1). Said unit being moved vertically (up and down) through a block (11); in which, alternatively, is adapted, instead of said solenoid (4), a system comprising a coil (18) electrically connected with a movable plate (13) and of a seat (19) electrically neutral, with an axial opening (2) and a vertical opening (6) for the passage of the stick (1).

Description: EQUIPMENT TO FORM A SHED IN FLAT WEAVER'S LOOMS The Jacquard-type equipment and the like designed to form a shed in flat weaver's looms are widely spread and used. However, these are traditional systems which have developed very little throughout the years and still today keep practically the same features of their first models introduced in France two hundred years ago. Such devices, besides being rather bulky, operate on platforms mouted above the looms, requiring costly installations for their aerial support and operate through complex sets of needles, cards, tie rods, etc., resulting in an extremely elaborate structure which demand an expensive maintenance. In general all of these pieces of equipment, which operate by pulling the tie rods carrying the warp threads upwards, are regarded as conventional nowadays and have caused the conceptual stagnation of the technical devices which have been used thus far. The present invention provides a new solution, completely different from the traditional systems, since, according to the invention, the warp threads are taken upwards in a totally different manner - they are pushed upwards by a specific functional unit which may even stand on the floor, with all the advantages of an easy installation offered by this important innovation. The enclosed schematic drawings (drawings 1 through 21) illustrate, in a simplified manner, the equipment object of the present invention, which consists of several functional units, working independently, arranged sequentially and mouted inside a ixed body C placed between the warp beam R and the comb P of the loom (not depicted), each one of said units consisting of a vertical stich 1 provided with a ring 2 in its center and, above this ring, a coaxial extension 3; a conventional solenoid electrically operated 4, with a movable longitudinal shaft 5; however the latter is placed in a transversal position having an opening 6 for the passage of the stick 1; a metallic sheet 7 for electrical contact and for fastening the solenoid 4 in relation to the stick 1; a vertical slot 8 for guiding the stick 1, located on the upper part of the solenoid 4 and coaxial to the opening 6; a vertical slot 9 for guiding the stick 1, placed below the solenoid 4 and coaxial to the opening 6; a vertical slot 10 for guiding the extension 3 of the stick 1, placed above the ring 2 and coaxial to the opening 6; a blocck 11, which can be moved up and down where the removable solenoid 4 is fastened and where a metallic sheet 7 and the slots 8, 9 and 10 are provided. Said block also contains a wall (12) on its top, for closing the upper part of the slot (10); a movable plate 13 for driving the shaft 5 towards the opening 6 of the solenoid 4; a rigid shield (bulkhead) 14, with an opening 15 for the passage of the stick 1, coaxial to slots 8, 9 and 10, said shield being mouted below the ring 2, and the opening 15 being provided with a rim (border) 16 for the protection and support of said ring 2. According to this invention, the solenoid 4, the metallic sheet 7 and the slots 8, 9 and 10 are all linked to block 11 which can be moved vertically up and down by the usual mechanical means such as, for instance, a cam E (illustrated in drawing 1 in a simplified manner). The equipment is of simple operation due to its special structure which lifts and lowers the warp thread, passing it through the ring 2, as it can be seen in the enclosed illustrations. Drawing 1 is a perspective view of the fixed body C housing the equipment object of this invention which, as previously mentioned, can stand on the floor, dispensing with te costly equipment for aerial support required by the traditional systems. In its essence, the elements of the invention operate in mutual coordination, basically driven by the action of the shaft 5 of the solenoid 4, which in two successive positions either blocks (drawings 2, 3, 4) or unblocks (drawings 5, 6) the passage of the stick 1 through its opening 6. The warp thread F pases through the ring 2, and is therefore lifted by the respective stick 1. In the blocking position, while the block 11 is stopped in the lowered position, the stick 1 remains inactive, resting on the shield 15 through the ring 2. At all times in this stage the stick 1 remains housed inside the slots 10 and 8, with its lower end 17 slightly far from the shaft 5 of the solenoid 4. In this stage, the plate 13 presses against said shaft 5, thus blocking the opening 6 (drawing 2). As this plate can be moved by any adequate means, whether electrical or mechanical, this feature does not constitute a particular feature of this invention. In order to drive the stick 1 upwards, plate 13 has to be moved backwards thus releasing the shaft 5, which, due to its own inertia, still continues blocking said opening 6 (drawing 3). The stick 1 starts becoming slightly lifted -when the block 11, duly provided with the solenoid 4, metallic sheet 7 and the slots 8, 9 and 10, moves upwards. As the block 11 moves upwards, the shaft 5 of the solenoid 4 pulls up the stick 1 so that the latter takes the warp thread F along, passing it through ring 2, thus completing the first operational stage of the invention (drawing 4). The stick 1 is brought back to its starting position when the block 11 is pulled down by its superior wall, as illustrated in drawing 2. The complete equipment, object of this invention, consists, as previously mentioned, of a variable number of operational units like the ones described above, duly arranged and assembled inside said block 11. As mentioned before, each one of said units is autonomous, acting individually and independently inside the equipment. Therefore, the invention allows for the selection of the sticks which are to be slightly lifted, according to the effect desired in the resulting fabric. In order to select the sticks, you only have to start the solenoid you want, thus causing, as described above, the lifting of the respective stick. Based on the fact that when the block 11 moves upwards it brings along all units forming the set, this invention presupposes the immobilization, in the lowered position, of the sticks which are to be kept in this - 5 - position. You just have to turn on the electrical circuit of the selected solenoid and this will make the shaft 5 move towards the plate 13, thus unblocking the passage of the opening 6. The respective stick 1 remains inactive, supported by the ring 2 on the shield 14 (drawing 5). When the block 11 moves upwards, this stick will not be pushed, since it passes freely through the opening 6 of the solenoid 4 (released by the retreat (setback) of the shaft 5) and starts to occupy the inside of slot 9 coaxially placed below the solenoid (drawing 6). Upon the return of block 11 to its starting position, said unit returns to the situation illustrated in drawing 5. As a consequence, stick 1 unblocks the return of the shaft 5, wich resumes the position illustrated in drawing 2 as soon as it is pushed by the plate 13. Drawing 7 illustrates as an example a multiple combination of said units agregated to said block 11 and properly arranged according to several different practical needs. For a better undestanding, only two units are schematically illustrated, one (corresponding to drawing 4) in shick the stick 1 * is raised, slightly raising the warp thread F", and the other (correpondeng to drawing 6) in which the stick 1" is at rest, keeping the warp thread F" in the lowered position. The relative positions of these two sticks illustrate the shed thus formed establishing between them a gap V through which the weave M passes at each operative cycle of the invention. Drawing 8 is a side view taken from the line Y-Y of drawing 7, illustrating the unmatched positions of the solenoids 4 in the equipment considered in different planes so that the stick 1 may operate solely in relation to its respective solenoid, without interfering in any other solenoid in the set. Finally, drawing 9 is a supplementary view, in perspective, of the solenoid 4, conventionally started by an electrical circuit but characterized by the fact that it is istalled transversely to said vertical opening 6 for the passage of the stick 1. As usual, said solenoid presents an intermediary beam I, where the coil N (represented by the broken line) is located, the respective electrical circuit being established through the contact of the latter with the power supply T, on one side, and with the metallic sheet 7 of the operational unit object of the invention, on the other side. The general reset of the invention, aiming at the complete restart of the operational cycle, is preceded, at all times, by the return of plate 13 to its original position, pressing the shaft 5, thus blocking the opening 6 of the solenoid, as represented in drawing 2. Alternatively, the function of the solenoid (4) can be performed by a device consisting of an electrical coil and an electrically neutral seat with an axial opening for the passage of said longitudinal shaft. Mentioned seat is, likewise, provided with a vertical opening for the passage of said stick. The attached drawings (figures 10 through 21) illustrate this alternative which can be described as follows: a vertical stick 1, with a lower end 17, said stick being provided with a ring 2 in its upper part for the passage of the warp thread F and, above this, a coaxial extension 3; an electrical coil 18 fastened to a metallic plate 13 which can be moved to the sides, electrically connected with said coil 18; a seat 19, electrically neutral, with an axial opening 20 for the movable longitudinal shaft 5 slide through. Said seat is placed transversally and has a vertical opening 6 for the passage of the stick 1; a vertical slot 8 for guiding the stick 1, placed above the seat 19 and coaxial to the opening 6; a vertical slot 9 for guiding the stick 1, placed below the seat 19 and coaxial to the opening 6; a block 11, which can be moved up and down where the removable seat 19 is fastened and where slots 8 and 9 are provided. Said block is also provided with a wall 12 on its top for closing its upper part; a fixed shield 14, with an opening 15 for the passage of the stick 1, coaxial to slots 8 and 9, said shield being mouted below the ring 2 and said opening 15 being provided with a border 16 for the protection and support of the ring 2. Said functional set permits, through the interaction of the movements of the shaft 5 and of the block 11 of each of its functional units, the selection of sticks 1 which are to be moved upwards or downwards at each cycle of the equipment, according to the effect desired in the resulting fabric. In this system you can choose whether you want or not the stick 1 to be moved upwards or downwards in coordination with the block 11, with the resulting movement of the warp thread F carried by each of the sticks forming the intire functional unit at issue. The text below describes a functional unit based on the present alternative, in its successive stages of lifting and lowering the block 11, optionally bringing or not along the stick 1 in the same movement. All drawings together repeat basically the illustrations contained in figures 2 to 9, this time showing the functional unit equipped with said coil 18 and said seat 19 with a vertical opening 6 and its peripheral functional elements: a metallic plate 13 (attached to the coil 18 and making electrical contact with the same through the connection L) and a movable longitudinal shaft 5 (aggregated to said seat 19). As it can be observed from the drawings, the coil 18 is connected, through one of its poles T, with the circuit in order to close the current. It can also be observed that, according to the present alternative, the following elements were eliminated: the metallic place (for the support and electrical contact of the solenoid (also eliminated)) and the slot located in the upper part of the block 11 for housing the extension 3 of the stick 1 (with experience, said housind proved to be dispensable). Fourthermore, the plate 13, once electrically neutral, is now, according to the present alternative, electrically active so as to allow the energization of the coil 18. So, in its operation and according to this device, in order to lift the stick 1, the metallic sheet, starts at rest (drawing 10), is moved by any adequate means against the seat 19, in coordination with the block 11, causing the coil 18 (not energized and coaxial in relation to the shaft 5) to push said shaft into the seat 19, blocking the opening 6 of said seat (drawing 11). Subsequently the coil 18 (not energized) backs off to its previous position, at rest (drawing 12), causing the block 11 to start moving upwards, bringing along the stick 1 supported by its lower end 17 in the shaft 5 (drawing 13). Upon its return to the lower position, the block 11 brings along the stick 1 (caught between the superior wall 12 of the block 11 and the longitudinal shaft 5), thus the set returns to the position in drawing 10 for restarting the lifting cycle of said block bringing along the stick 1. On the other hand, when the stick 1 is to be kept immobilized, simply supported by its ring 2 on the fixed shield 14, while the block 11 moves up and down, according to the invention you only have to bring the coil 18, from the starting position illustrated in drawing 14 closer to the shaft 5 (drawing 15) and then said coil will be electrically energized. Once energized and returning to its starting point, said coil pulls magnetically the shaft 5 partially outside the seat 19, thus unblocking said opening 6 (drawings 16 and 17). As block 11 moves upwards, the stick 1, released from the shaft 5, remains immobilized, at rest, supported by its ring 2 in the fixed shield 14, freely sliding Throughout the slots 8 and 9 of said block and of the opening 6 of the seat 19 (drawing 9). The same occurs when said block returns to its lower position (drawing 5) for restarting the lifting cycle of said block. As one can observe, the device permits, through the movement of the plate 13 by any adequate means, and through the energization (or not) of the coil 18, the selection of the sticks 1 which are to be lifted together with the block 11 at each movement of said block, according to the effect desired in the resulting fabric, since each stick determines the movement of the warp thread F passing through its ring 2. Drawing 19 illustrates schematically the various sticks (1", 1") which will or not join in the upwards movement of block 11, at each movement of the set. Finally, drawings 20 and 21 are separate perspective views of coil 18 (electrically connected to the metallic plate 13 by the wiring L) and to the closing of the circuit through the wiring T, and of the seat 19 with an axial opening 20 and a vertical opening 6, said seat being intended for housing and sliding of the movable longitudinal shaft 5.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Equipment to form shed in flat weaver's looms, characterized by various functional units, working independently, arranged sequentially, mounted inside a fixed body C, placed between the warp beam (R) and the comb (P) of the loom, each one of said unit comprising a vertical stick (1) provided with a ring (2) in its center and, above this, a coaxial extension (3); a conventional electrical solenoid (4), with a mobile longitudinal shaft (5), equipped, nevertheless, with a transversal vertical opening (6) for the passage of the stick (1); a metallic sheet (7) for electrical contact and for fastening the solenoid (4) to the stick (1); a vertical slot (8) for guiding the stick (1) located above the solenoid (4) and coaxial to the opening (6); a vertical slot (9) for guiding the stick (1) located below the solenoid (4) and coaxial to the opening (6); a vertical slot (10) for guiding the extension (3) of the stick (1), located above the ring (2) and coaxial to the opening (6); a block (11), which can be moved vertically bottom up on which the removable solenoid (4) is fastened and on which a metallic sheet (7) and the slots (8), (9), (10) are provided. Said block also presents on its upper part, a wall (12) closing the superior slot (10); a movable plate (13) for driving the shaft (5) towards the opening (6) of the solenoid (4); a rigid shield (wall) (14) with an opening (15) for the passage of the stick (1), coaxial to the slots (8), (9), (10), said shield (wall) being mounted below the ring (2), and the opening (15) being provided (equipped) with a rim (border) for protection and support of said ring (2). 2. Equipment to form shed in flat weaver's looms, as claimed in claim 1, characterized by presenting alternatively, instead of said solenoi (4), a system consisting of: a) an elecrical coil (18) electrically connected with a metallic plate (13), which can be moved horizontally, desingned to allow the passage of electrical current to said coil; b) a seat (19), electrically neutral, with an axial opening (20) to permit a movable longitudinal shaft (5) to slide through, said seat being mounted on said block (11) and equipped with a transversal vertical opnening (6) for the passage of the stick (1).

Inventors: MORANDI MARCOS, MORANDI, MARCOS
Applicants: MAQTEX MAQUINAS TEXTEIS IND E, MORANDI MARCOS, MAQTEX MAQUINAS TEXTEIS INDUSTRIA E COMERCIO LTDA-, MORANDI, MARCOS
Application year: 1994
Main classification: D03C3
IPC codes: D03C3